Three inmates attempt escape from Patiala jail, held

Patiala: Three inmates, including one convict and two undertrials, allegedly attempted to escape from Patiala Central Jail in the early hours of Friday, but were apprehended by jail security personnel and police team within a few hours.The inmates were identified as Rahul Kumar Pandey, Vikram Singh and Karandeep Singh. They allegedly used makeshift ropes by tearing blankets into strips, and used them to scale the prison wall before entering the premises of the Jail Training School, adjacent to the prison complex.The attempt was foiled after a night guard noticed suspicious movement and raised the alarm. Jail authorities then launched a search operation and apprehended all three inmates shortly afterwards. Confirming the incident, Tripuri police station SHO Sukhwinder Singh Gill said an FIR had been registered under Section 262 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Prisons Act.Gill said the incident took place around 4:30 am on Friday, when the trio attempted to flee and managed to reach the Jail Training School premises before being captured a few hours later. Further investigation was underway, he added. Sources said Rahul Pandey is a convicted prisoner, while Vikram Singh and Karandeep Singh are undertrial inmates. Jail Superintendent G.S. Dhaliwal could not be contacted for comment despite repeated attempts.The incident again raised concerns over security arrangements at Patiala Central Jail, which in the past also remained in the spotlight over the recovery of prohibited items, including mobile phones and data cables, from inside the prison premises. The Punjab govt has recently been pushing prison reforms and technology-based surveillance upgrades to strengthen security across jails in the state. MSID: 131118216 413 |